National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) plans to purchase 40 000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize valued at K10 billion to feed millions of Malawians facing hunger this year.
Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda said this when he inspected the maize buying exercise at NFRA maize silos complex in Lilongwe yesterday.
The buying started on Monday and loaded trucks were seen offloading the maize at the silos in Kanengo.
“I have been told that, in a day, they are offloading 45 trucks. This is very impressive. This maize will later be donated to citizens that are in dire need of food,” Chaponda said.
The minister also said they have struck a deal with Zambia and Tanzania to supply the country with maize.
“I travelled to Zambia recently where the Zambian Government has assured us that we can buy 200 000MT from them while Tanzania has committed to sell us 150 000MT. We are optimistic that we will have enough food,” the minister said.
NFRA chief executive officer Nasinuku Saukila has said currently they have 20 000MT in the silos.
About 6.5 million Malawians—nearly one third of the population—face food insecurity, according to recent government estimates.
